CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Denise Guthrie says as soon as her kids could drive, she taught them the dangers of driving impaired. But she couldn’t prepare them for the decisions of other drivers. 

What You Need To Know

  • December is National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month

  • Studies from Beverage Daily show Americans drink twice as much during the holiday season, making the roads more dangerous

  • Denise Guthrie lost her son to a drunken driver in February. Now she’s using his story to raise awareness

On Feb. 24, Guthrie lost her son Tony Faust, who was killed by a drunken driver. Now she’s using her voice and his story to prevent future deaths due to impaired driving. 

We want to put a face with the decision, with your decision, with your choices that you make.“We want to put a face with the decision, with your decision, with your choices that you make. This is what could happen,”  Guthrie said, holding a sign reading “In loving memory of Troy Faust killed by a drunk driver.”

Guthrie said she carries these signs in her car everywhere she goes, putting them in yards, at stop signs, wherever she can in hopes that someone will read it and choose to drive sober.  

According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, every day, 28 people in the United States die in drunken driving crashes. That's one person every 52 minutes.

Guthrie carries Faust’s thumbprint with her on a necklace, as she keeps his memory alive and focuses on her mission.

“I just want people to know drinking and driving has its consequences and drinking and driving is not an accident — it's a choice. And when you make that choice you take the responsibility to what may occur,” Guthrie said. 

Guthrie says her next step is to put the faces of other victims of drunken driving on posters, showing the widespread impact of impaired driving.

To learn more about Faust’s story, head to their Facebook page. 

Mothers Against Drunk Driving is running the Tie One On for Safety public campaign, asking community members to prevent drunken driving by assigning a designated driver.